A split image showing Arne Slot and Marc Guehi

Arne Slot and Liverpool are still interested in Marc Guehi

Liverpool are planning for a quiet month when the transfer window reopens despite concerns at centre-back, a growing injury list and uncertainty in the forward line.

The information found within this article has been gathered according to The Athletic’s sourcing guidelines. Sources with knowledge of transfer dealings, who asked to be kept anonymous to protect relationships, have been spoken to before offering the clubs involved the opportunity to comment.

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After doing the bulk of their business during the summer, club sources have indicated there will not be a flurry of activity in January. Liverpool are unlikely to consider short-term solutions. Instead, they will push on with their expensively assembled squad, which is starting to gel after a tricky first half of the season.

There may still be room for an addition, but head coach Arne Slot says he “fully believes in the way of working”, despite admitting the current situation is “tough”. Slot will have to turn to youngsters to fill gaps in his squad should injuries persist.

Here, The Athletic’s Gregg Evans takes a closer look at what Liverpool will be considering as we approach the turn of the year.

What is the manager’s priority?

Central defensive cover is a massive issue for Liverpool, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate the only fit senior options. Slot knows that his back line is stretched — Joe Gomez is out with a hamstring injury and Giovanni Leoni is unlikely to return until next season following an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September.

Academy graduate Wellity Lucky has been called up to the bench in recent times as cover, and the 19-year-old defender may be needed during the hectic period ahead.

Alexander Isak faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after surgery on his fractured leg, Cody Gakpo has missed the last three matches with a muscle injury, and Mohamed Salah is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, leaving Slot short on numbers during a period of intense fixture congestion.

Alexander Isak has recently suffered an injuryJustin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images

What positions will they be looking at in January?

Centre-back is the most obvious spot, but the forward line has also come into sharp focus because of recent injuries and the uncertainty around Salah.

Liverpool are still interested in signing Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, despite missing out on the England international late in the last window. The move has become more complex due to his contract situation — he is set to become a free agent this summer — and the additional challenges of completing a transfer mid-season.

Palace pulled the plug on a £35million deal on deadline day, having decided to keep him for this season. Liverpool don’t expect that stance to change in January. It’s also doubtful whether Guehi would want to leave next month, given that, financially, he would be better off waiting and walking away as a free agent come the summer.

Liverpool have the freedom to react in the market if needed but will likely stick with what they have.

Which players do they want?

Liverpool admire Antoine Semenyo, but The Athletic has reported that the forward’s preference — with Manchester United keen and Chelsea deciding against a move after an initial enquiry — in January is to join Manchester City.

Links to Semenyo, already heightened as Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes originally recruited him to Bournemouth, cranked up after Salah’s public outburst about losing his place in the team.

However, Liverpool don’t expect the Egyptian attacker to leave in January, so in that case, there wouldn’t be a space in the squad to fill.

As in every window, the club’s recruitment staff will be assessing ‘market opportunities’, with several young players on their radar.

Who will they be looking to sell?

There’s no urgency to offload, especially after 10 players (seven permanent) were moved on in the summer. Liverpool are planning for the rest of the season with Salah on board and are not expected to lose any senior players.

A decision needs to be taken over Harvey Elliott’s short-term future. His loan spell at Aston Villa is not going to plan and he is unlikely to make the 10 appearances that trigger a £35million ($47.2m) move. He has only played in five matches.

As Elliott has already represented two clubs this season, he cannot play for another, so he either stays at Villa or returns to Anfield. He’s not playing — or even making the squad — as manager Unai Emery believes other players in his position are fulfilling his specific tactical requirements more successfully.

Another layer of complexity is centred on the terms of the loan, which do not include a recall clause, so it’s not as simple as Liverpool just deciding to bring him back and end the nightmare move. Villa will also have to pay to terminate the loan early.

Will anyone move out on loan?

The growing injury list may change plans to loan out young players on the periphery of the senior squad.

Trey Nyoni has interest from clubs on the continent and across the UK, but the 18-year-old was introduced for his Premier League debut late into the 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. Calvin Ramsay, 22, has also been in the squad in recent weeks and may be needed as backup with Gomez out. Stefan Bajcetic could do with a run of games following a lengthy injury, but the 21-year-old won’t be rushed out, while strikers Jayden Danns, 19, and Will Wright, 17, are on the comeback trail after injury.

This could, however, be an ideal window for 19-year-old Trent Kone-Doherty to make his first loan move as clubs continue to monitor his progress when he represents Liverpool in the UEFA Youth League and during under-21 games. Rhys Williams, meanwhile, was unable to secure a loan move in the summer, but there may be fresh interest in the 24-year-old this next window.

Trey Nyoni made his Premier League debut against Tottenham HotspurLewis Storey/Getty Images

Do they need to sell to buy?

Not necessarily, but given the huge spend over the summer and the uncertainty over Elliott, there’s a greater emphasis on buying to replace rather than simply adding to the squad.

Other than in central defence, Liverpool are still relatively well-stocked after the summer rebuild.

What is their PSR position? What sort of budget do they have?

“The outside world wants to believe we have unlimited money but that is not true,” Slot said recently when discussing the January window. That was another reminder that it’s going to be quiet after big outlays on Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Leoni in the summer.

Profit and sustainability rules are an ongoing concern for every club, but Liverpool are well-positioned, given they generated up to £260million from sales in the last window and have continued to strengthen their books through huge commercial deals as well as competing in the Champions League.

If they don’t make any signings, can they achieve their goals this season?

A mini-revival has helped lift the mood, and the hard-earned 1-0 win at Inter, who had not lost at home in the Champions League for over three years, showed that this current crop still has what it takes to succeed in Europe.

Most of the damage has already been done in the Premier League, and Liverpool should still be strong enough to finish in the top four regardless of what they do in January. Another defender would certainly give the team an edge in Europe, though.